Description: More than 50 million Americans currently live with some form of disability. In Virginia, this means that one of every five citizens will have a disability or know someone who does. Hence, our challenge is clear. The goal of the Partnership is to further the ability of individuals with disabilities to be fully included in their communities. The Partnership for People with Disabilities, an affiliate of the School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University, is Virginia's only university...

Description: Finally, we come to the last of the IEP components—the transfer of rights at age of majority. This component is only needed in the IEPs of some students, as you’ll see. IDEA’s exact words What does age of majority mean? What IDEA requires How is the student informed?

Description: Think about a time when you really wanted someone – a teacher – to know stuff about you but you really didn’t want to have to take the time and the words to explain it. Think about your IEP. How long does it take for anyone to look at it and find out the important things about you? The One-Pager was created as a way to cut through all of that paper and get at the important stuff quickly and all on one page. What it is The One-Pager is a simple tool to help provide...

Description: The I’m Determined Goal Plan is a visual representation of the steps needed to accomplish an identified goal. The student’s goal is written in the center of the sun. Each sunray represents an outcome resulting from goal attainment. In the box that appears below the sun, the steps needed to reach the goal are listed. How to do it Use the apps! The iOS app works only with iPads and includes a Teacher Dashboard that allows teachers to track and manage their class. The...

Description: Think about what a good day at school or work looks like for you. Do you need coffee? Do you need to listen to music first thing in the morning or do you need quiet to start your day? Does it happen now? If not, what can YOU do to make it happen? Who can help you out along the way? What it is The Good Day Plan is a simple tool used to help you identify the factors that play a role in whether or not you have a good day. What it does The Good Day Plan allows you to view your day from...

Description: The Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) program seeks to empower young people with developmental and other disabilities to further develop their leadership skills. Students, serving as Delegates from communities throughout Virginia, participate in a wide range of activities and learning experiences during this summer program set on a university campus. Delegates will learn directly from peer mentors and successful adult role models while they work on their own personal leadership plans, improve their...

Description: A Life 4 Me is a new online resource to help people with disabilities establish community connections, including social, employment, and volunteer opportunities. It was developed by youth with disabilities, in partnership with the Partnership for People with Disabilities and Virginia Department of Education. Video Tours Include: Go To College Get Services in the Community Live in the Community Work in the Community

Description: Teens and tweens with learning and attention issues may struggle with self-control for a number of reasons. Certain apps can help them think before they act, keep their emotions in check and stay focused on specific goals. Here are five apps that may help teens and tweens with self-control. Price and availability may vary but were accurate at the time of publication, on February 25, 2016.

Description: Virginia Family Special Education Connection provides a one-stop-shop for parents, families and caregivers of children with special needs to: Access local school system contacts and disability services in your community Explore an abundance of resources, including assistive technology and behavioral supports to help your child succeed. Learn about and plan your child's educational program Understand your legal rights and responsibilities POWER (Parent Organizer with Educational Resources)...

Description: The end-of-summer countdown has begun, and while most kids aren't thrilled with the prospect of going back to school, the transition can be especially tough for those with autism. Three experts share their best tips for making the process smoother—for children of all ages. If your child is in elementary school … If your child is in middle school … If your child is in high school …

Description: Autism Speaks is excited to announce that the Community-based Skills Assessment (CSA), a tool to help you develop a personalized transition plan, is now an app, powered by Identifor. Check out the app by downloading it in the Apple or Google store! The challenges associated with the transition from school services to adulthood for individuals with autism are well documented. Every individual with autism is different and as a result, there is no "one size fits all" plan for the path to...

Description: This web app provides online resources to help famililies raising children and youth in foster care and kinship care, where children and youth are brought up by non-birth parent relatives. The following topics are covered: Trying to Enroll a Child in School? Concerned about Learning or School? Concerned about Mental Health or Behaviors? Need Public Benefits? Concerned about Transitions Through School and After? Concerned about Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs? Involved in the Court...

Description: Student-directed IEPs are quickly gaining momentum in schools across the country—the proven benefits include higher academic achievement, enhanced student motivation, and increased communication and self-advocacy skills for students with disabilities. Now for the first time, there's a book that gives elementary and high school educators in-depth how-to guidance on making student-directed IEPs work for students with a range of special needs. Packed with practical advice, helpful examples,...

Description: As you get older, you’re able to start making your own decisions about a lot of things that matter most to you. You may choose your own clothes, music, and friends. You also may be ready to make decisions about your body and health. Making healthy decisions about what you eat and drink, how active you are, and how much sleep you get is a great place to start. Here you’ll learn how your body works—how your body uses the food and drinks you consume and how being active may help...

Description: Project LIFE (Living Independently, Focusing on Empowerment) helps youth in Virginia succeed when they age out of foster care. We do that by helping youth directly and by supporting the professionals who work with them. Our services help youth in foster care avoid homelessness, helplessness and hopelessness. Instead, they have the knowledge and support they need to get jobs, continue school, live decently and give back to their communities. While youth are in foster care, decisions are often...

Description: This includes: About Services for Older Youth & Independent Living Overview Eligibility, Services, Guidance & Procedures Educational Opportunities Community College Tuition Grant Education and Training Vouchers (ETV) Great Expectations Video Modules- Module 1: What is a Transition Plan and why should I do one? Module 2: Who is involved in Transition Planning? Module 3: How do I develop a Transition Plan? Module 4: What do I need to know to effectively plan for myself? Module 5: What...

Description: The Department of Juvenile Justice operates and is responsible for the vast majority of local Court Service Units (often known as juvenile probation offices) across the Commonwealth, as well as the two state-operated Juvenile Correctional Centers, Beaumont and Bon Air. On any given day, the Department has somewhere between 4,500 and 5,000 youth under some kind of supervision, with more than 90 percent of those youth being supervised in their communities through diversion, probation or parole....

Description: The mission of Virginia's public education system is to educate students in the fundamental knowledge and academic subjects that they need to become capable, responsible, and self-reliant citizens. Therefore, the mission of the Virginia Board of Education and the superintendent of public instruction, in cooperation with local school boards, is to increase student learning and academic achievement.

Description: Setting goals gives your child something to work toward. But as she moves forward, it’s important to help her look back at what she’s already achieved—including small strides she may not have even realized were accomplishments. This can help her stay motivated and push ahead with confidence. Making an “accomplishment box” is a fun way to help your child see her accomplishments—and watch them grow! To get started, download and print this set of sheets. It...

Description: The countdown to college is on! There’s a lot to get done between high school graduation and move-in day. Use this calendar of reminders to help first-year students with learning and attention issues get ready.

Description: This free texting app provides a picture-based system for individuals with disabilities, who are non-readers or who are not able to text using a standard touch screen keyboard. The user can send important preset message(s) (created by a family member or supervisor) to necessary preset contact(s) as email messages or text messages with one swipe or touch. Users can also receive messages sent to them by others using this app. Messages sent or received by the user can be read out loud using...

Description: Parents and caregivers are arguably the most important stakeholders in a child’s educational success. With nearly 1.3 million students dropping out of high school each year, the Annie E. Casey Foundation and America’s Promise Alliance developed this toolkit to engage parents in dropout prevention and development strategies to ensure the success of all children. This toolkit is a resource for all organizations and community leaders interested in bringing the parent voice into the...

Description: The POWER (Parent Organizer With Educational Resources) web app provides parents and families with online resources to answer questions about child development, disabilities, community services, Special Education, diploma options in Virginia and transition to life after high school. The questions and potential resources are separated into age levels: Early Childhood, Elementary School, Middle School and High School. This project is a collaborative effort between the Parent Resource...

Description: The Applied Studies Curriculum Map (PDF) is a set of skills and competencies that IEP teams can use to identify the need for additional instruction that the student will need to achieve their postsecondary goals. These skills are not standards or required to earn the Applied Studies Diploma, but provide guidance to teams in aligning the student’s transition goals with the goals outlined in the annual IEP. The Applied Studies Curriculum Map provides a guide in which teachers, students,...

Description: For Educators and Professionals This site is designed to provide educators and professionals with practical information that can be used to identify and provide appropriate services to children with a brain injury. The following information is located within this section. TBI Identification Protocol: Information and documents related to how to identify a student with a traumatic brain injury. Manual: This will connect you with the Brain Injury in Children and Youth: A Manual for...

Description: Social capital may seem like a contemporary buzzword, but the concept has been around for centuries. It is described in history, economics, sociology, and politics. It has been described in highly esoteric ways by numerous famous intellectuals. In this webcast, we take it down to the everyday level. Social capital is a resource (something you can obtain, use, and invest), a catalyst (something that causes change), and an outcome (with potential benefits to both the individual and the...

Description: For more than a decade, the GCFLearnFree.org program has helped millions around the world learn the essential skills they need to live and work in the 21st century. From Microsoft Office and email to reading, math, and more, GCFLearnFree.org offers more than 180 topics, including more than 2,000 lessons, 800+ videos, and 55+ interactives and games, completely free. Educators' Resources Our curriculum staff has created the following guides to assist you in using GCFLearnFree.org content with the...

Description: Age of majority is the age when children legally become adults. At this time, they gain the rights of adults, which include the right to vote, marry, apply for a credit card, make medical and financial decisions for themselves, sign contracts, live independently, and much more. In most states the age of majority is age 18. We invite you to read this tip sheet for parents to learn more about: Who decides the age of majority The age of majority in your state What the transfer of parental...

Description: From a student’s first day of school until the completion of his or her education, a significant number of educational decisions will have been made for or by that student. Until a student reaches the age of 18 (also called the “age of majority” in Virginia), most of those decisions are made by parents, family members, and/or guardians in consultation with teachers or education officials. The right of a person meeting the definition of parent under the Virginia Regulations, to...

Description: The I’m Determined project, a state directed project funded by the Virginia Department of focuses on providing direct instruction, models, and opportunities to practice skills associated with self-determined behavior. This project facilitates youth, especially those with disabilities, to undertake a measure of control in their lives, helping to set and steer the course rather than remaining the silent passenger. Self-Determination is…• Knowing and believing in yourself•...

Description: The Center for Disability Leadership supports and encourages people with disabilities to become leaders in their own lives and leaders in our communities. The Center carries out the mission by: Providing resources for people with disabilities, family members, professionals, and others on current topics of interest; Supporting people with disabilities to become leaders, from finding their individual voices to leading the charge for systems change; Helping people with disabilities to influence...

Description: DMV has taken numerous measures to ensure our customer service centers (CSC) comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that our disabled customers have access to the services they need in a comfortable environment. Assistance for Customers with Disabilities Customers with disabilities can easily request special assistance or accommodations by making their needs known when they arrive at the information counter in any CSC. Once a customer's special needs are identified, a customer...

Description: The Art of Impact explores the power of self-advocacy. It presents the thoughts of a core group of committed leaders on the Self-Advocate Leadership Circle of the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD). The book shares tips, tools, and strategies for advocacy to help people with disabilities live self-determined lives and become advocates for change. The eBook is available on a computer or a variety of mobile devices, including an iPad or a...

Description: The I’m Determined project, a state directed project funded by the Virginia Department of Education, focuses on providing direct instruction, models, and opportunities to practice skills associated with self-determined behavior. This project facilitates youth, especially those with disabilities to undertake a measure of control in their lives, helping to set and steer the course rather than remaining the silent passenger. There are resources and videos for Educators, Parents and...

Description: Quality transition planning is student centered and student driven. The initial step is gathering information regarding a students’ current strengths, needs, preferences, and interests in the context of “of current and future working, educational, living, and personal and social environments”, (Sitlington, Neubert, and Leconte, 1997). Transition assessment toolkit. The Summary of Performance is required (IDEA, 2004) and intended to provide a student with a summary of their...

Description: Service Dogs of Virginia is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that raises, trains, and places dogs to assist people with disabilities. Highly trained dogs perform a multitude of tasks that allow greater personal freedom and independence. We serve clients residing in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and are based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Physical Assistance Dogs Whether a person’s medical condition is caused by an accident or a hereditary disability, a physical assistance dog can open...

Description: This is a resource from ADDitude Magazine. To download the resource you will have to enter your email address. Help your gamer pick programs that boost attention and executive skills. Many kids with ADHD love their screen time. This free download contains the best recommendations, with ratings, for the video and computer games to choose from these favorites: Bad Piggies Roblox Minecraft Portal And much more!

Description: The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) is excited to announce the second year of the Autistic Scholars Fellowship, a scholarship which provides 4 to 6 autistic students with a $5,000 tuition scholarship to promote autistic leadership and create systemic change on their college campuses. Fellows will be required to establish or participate in a leadership role within an ASAN campus chapter or a disability rights student organization, work to promote Autistic culture and community, and take...

Description: If your child is turning 17, it is time to begin thinking about the age of majority and what that means for you and your son or daughter. Federal and state laws require that Local Education Agencies explain this to parents and students by age seventeen. You need to consider how you might support the decisions he or she has to make upon reaching the age of majority at age eighteen. The freedom to make decisions and to be self-determined plays an important role in defining all of us as human...

Description: What do Teachers Need to Know?Providing opportunities for students with ASD to be as independent as possible will help to pave the way towards independence as they transition to adulthood. Consider the personal skills needed for independence: physical health, social health and community participation. Students with ASD often lag behind their peers in these areas. Providing strategies and practicing these skills while still in high school will help the student after graduation while at home, in...

Description: The following transition tips were compiled from a survey developed by the Center on Transition Innovations and given to a diverse group of Virginia families whose children have experienced the transition from high school to adult options. These valuable suggestions can assist others in making informed decisions, advocating for improved services, and building upon school and community partnerships. 1. Love your child unconditionally, believe in him or her, provide encouragement, dream big! You...

Description: Advisory: This Fast Fact contains adult content and may not be suitable for all readers In today’s technological world, the Internet has become an important and growing source of information and connectedness. The Internet is useful for many reasons, whether it is being used to chat with old friends, find directions to a restaurant, or read a movie review. However, individuals with ASD and their families may face unique challenges when attempting to safely navigate the web. It is possible...

Description: We all have issues that don't go our way and end up straining relationships with others. It's what we do from that point that determines whether we can maintain positive relationships with those involved or further strain those connections. The Problem Resolution App is designed to help facilitate the collection of narratives of those involved in a particular dilemma. This is a great tool for counselors/facilitators/administrators to gather multiple perspectives around issues that arise. ...

Description: This extensive resource page comes from the Military Parent Technical Assistance Center (MPTAC), also known as the Branch. The Branch is funded by OSEP to help Parent Centers increase their visibility with, and support for, military families within their communities. About the Resource Page and the Tools ListedIn this resource, the Branch has identified some cool tools for military children to help them grow essential self-advocacy skills. They’re aimed at children ages four through...

Description: This webinar presentation covers two aspects of Age of Majority issues presented by The disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV): Social Security and Alternatives to Guardianship"Social Security: The Age 18 Re-determination and Related Topics", presented by Elizabeth HornSynopsis -Students on SSI as a child will be re-determined at age 18 based on the adult rules. How is the decision made, can benefits be extended, is working during this time recommended? What about applying for the first...

Description: Our latest PEATC Youth Factsheets were developed by collaborating with PEATC's Youth Advisory Board --- Thank You to the members for their expertise and insights! Topics include: How to be Friends with Someone with Special NeedsBe Determined to be the Best YouMaking Homework Time Less StressfulKeep up-to-date with PEATC Youth by following our blog: https://peatcyouth.wordpress.com/

Description: Puberty can be a time of mixed feelings for parents and pre-teens. It may be a time of pride and celebration, as well as a time of worry and confusion. It is hard for pre-teens to understand the many changes that come along with puberty. Also, parents may feel unsure of how to explain these changes to their child. All parents eventually face the challenge of teaching their children about the natural changes of puberty. However, parents of pre-teens with ASD may need the help of additional...